5 June, World Environment Day, is around the corner and we can be sure that there’ll be a lot of noise about protecting the planet, caring for the environment, etc. And after that? We are likely to slip back into our routines, forgetting all talk of being environmentally responsible.

So, this World Environment Day, we thought we’d just remind people that there’s a lot you can do to make a difference even without leaving the confines of your home, actually, even your room.

If you are really keen on helping, and lack of time, opportunities, lifestyle factors, etc., are the stumbling blocks, try virtual volunteering. As the term suggests, it’s about being a volunteer and all you need is access to the computer/ Internet and oodles of enthusiasm.

You can just snatch a few minutes from your routines to suggest ideas, write reports, sign-up for causes, and so on, and do it all online. And your interest doesn’t have to be confined to the environment too.

Find opportunities in any area that excites you – from travel to writing to education or even technology. As we live on a fragile planet with millions of connections across our eco-systems (we just don’t mean botanically), you never know how your efforts can help. Perhaps your article on responsible travelling will inspire readers to be more gracious towards local communities. Or maybe you can help develop that ace application that lets urban users reach out to the rural masses.

Here are some tips to make your online volunteering mission a success.

• Be realistic. Don’t take up a volunteering opportunity if it doesn’t interest you. Before committing, be sure you can spend the time and have the skills needed.

• Start easy. Begin with simple tasks that don’t demand too much of your time. Initially, you can set aside a few minutes of your online time everyday to follow up news and developments in your area of interest, or figure out which organisations offer the kind of tasks you are looking for. Once you have taken up a task, organise your time and work on it for a specific period regularly.

• Integrate it with other goals. Try and match the projects you take up with other goals. For example, try online volunteering instead of a written project for your college grades. Or explore an area you’ve wanted to know more about by taking up an assignment in it. This will keep you motivated.

• Talk about your work. Let people know what you are doing. Talk about it in your status message. Get opinions and ideas from peers on your social network. Write an article about it for your company’s intranet. You’ll feel good about what you are doing and others will get to know about such opportunities too.

If you are merely excited by the idea of online volunteering but are unsure about taking it up, there’s still something you can do. Spread the word and just share the idea. And let the ones who are really keen know that there are a lot of opportunities waiting to be explored.